Washing apparatus



Dec. 10, 1946. w JOHNTQN 2,412,270

WASHING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 29, 1944 INVENTOR ii fl/lm A Johnston -I:: BY I Patented Dec.'l0, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WASHING APPARATUS William A. Johnston, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 29, 1944, Serial No. 520,148

2 Claims. 1

My invention relates to clothes washing apparatus and has for an object to provide improved apparatus of this kind.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a domestic clothes washer having a shelf structure upon which the fabrics to be treated are collected prior to depositing the fabrics in the machine, an indication to the operator when the weight of the bundle of fabrics upon the shelf approximates the capacity of the machine.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of one form of washing machine constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 with portions thereof shown in section; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through a switch structure shown in Fig 2.

In the operation of domestic clothes washers and particularly washing and centrifuging machines which are automatically cycled through predetermined steps in a washing program, it is desirable that the weight of the load of fabrics being treated approximate the rated capacity of the machine. The washing operation is inefllciently effected if the load is less than the capacity of the machine and, if the load exceeds the capacity of the machine, the fabrics may be poorly washed and centrifuged. The operator, as a general rule, loads the machine until, in his or her opinion, the load is proper and this guesswork usually results in an improper load. In accordance with my invention, the door of the machine is employed as a shelf for receiving the load of dry fabrics and an indicator is energized when the proper weight of fabrics is upon the shelf. Preferably, a light is carried by the tub casing and controlled by a switch actuated by the shelf. The switch is biased to its open position and is closed by the shelf when the weight of fabrics thereon approximates the rated capacity of the machine.

Reference will now be had to the drawing wherein I have shown my invention applied to a domestic washing machine of the type disclosed in the patent of William J. Russell, No. 2,296,265, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention. This machine includes a tub, gener ally shown at l0, for enclosing a body of washing water and the means (not shown) for washing the fabrics in the body of water. The tub I is open at its front for the ingress and egress of the fabrics to be treated and the open end of the tub is closed by a suitable, gasketed, hinged door H. The tub I0 is enclosed within a casing structure l2 having a front wall, the upper portion 13 of which is inclined and provided with an opening M in registry with the door ll. When the washing machine is not in use, the opening I4 is closed by hinged door or cover IS. The latter is supported by a pair of brackets l6 which extend through slots lBa in the wall [3 and are pivoted or hinged, as shown at ll, to the casing l2. During periods when the machine is in operation, the door I5 is disposed in a substantially horizontal position for defining a shelf at the front of the washer upon which the fabrics to be treated are placed before being deposited in the machine.

In accordance with my invention, a signaling device, such as, for example, an indicating lamp I 8 is disposed on the front side of the machine, which device is energized when the weight of the dry fabrics placed on the shelf [5 approximates the capacity of the machine. The lamp I8 is connected in an electrical circuit I9 controlled by a switch structure, generally indicated at 2| and actuated by the door IS. A sectional view of the switch is shown in Fig. 3, to which reference will now be had.

The switch structure 2| includes a casing 22 which encloses stationary and movable switch contacts 23 and 24 which are connected to suitable binding posts, as shown. The movable contact 24 is carried by a resilient support 24a which biases the contact 24 away from the contact 23 at all times, One end of the casing 22 slidably supports a plunger 25, the inner end of which engages a seat 26 for a compression spring 21. The opposite end of the spring bears against a seat 28 which is supported by an adjusting screw 29. The latter may be adjusted for properly biasing the spring 21. A screw driver insertable through an opening 29a in the casing i2 is preferably employed for this operation. A shoulder 31! limits outward movement of the plunger 25, Engagement of the contact 24 with the contact 23 is effected by a finger 30 carried by the seat 26 and movable into engagement with the resilient support 24a when the finger 3D is moved to the left as described hereinafter.

As shown in Fig. 2, the switch structure 2| is disposed so that the plunger 25 is engaged by an arm 32 formed on one of the brackets I6 when the door [5 is moved to its horizontal position. The bias of the spring 21 is such that the Weight of the door is. insufficient to compress the spring 21 and effect the closing of the contacts 23 and 24. However, when a predetermined weight of fabrics, for example, 9 pounds is deposited upon the door I5, the weight of the fabrics and the 'door will compress the spring 21 and move the finger 30 sufliciently to close the contacts 23 and 24, whereupon the indicating light I8 is energized. This indication will notify the operator that the weight of the bundle approximates the capacity of the machine. The inner door I I is then opened and the bundle of fabrics is deposited in the tub structure I for washing.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that I have provided an inexpensive and positive signaling mechanism for use with a clothes washing machine which will notify the operator when the weight of fabrics to be loaded in the machine is optimum for eflicient treatment of the fabrics. The advantages of washing and centrifuging the proper weight of fabrics have been set forth heretofore.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

i. In apparatus for cleaning fabrics or the like,

the combination 01' a tub for receiving the fab rics to be cleaned, a wall arranged at the front of the tub and having an. access opening therein for the ingress of the fabrics to the tub, a hinged door for closing the opening and movable to an open, generally horizontal position for defining a shelf for the reception of the dry fabrics prior to their admission to the tub, an indicator to be rendered active when the weight of the dry fabrics on the door approximates a predetermined value, and means responsive to said predetermined weight of fabrics upon the door for energizing said indicator.

2. In apparatus for cleaning fabrics or the like, the combination of a tub for receiving the fabrics to be cleaned, a wall arranged at the front of the tub and having an access opening therein for the ingress of the fabrics to the tub, a hinged door for closing the access opening and movable to an open, generally horizontal position for defining a shelf for the reception of the dry fabrics prior to their admission to the tub, a member movable with the door, an indicating lamp, 2;, switch for controlling energization of'the lamp, said switch being engaged by said member in the open position of the door and actuated to its closed position by said member in response to a predetermined weight of fabrics upon the door and a spring biasing the switch to its open position.

WILLIAM A. JOHNSTON. 

